Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

How can Air Force leaders allow people who can't pass this test and/or exempted from every component, deploy to combat zones, yet not allow them to be considered for DSD, PME, or TA?

What sense does this make?

Right...they aren't "fit to fight" but they are sent to "fight" anyway.

On the other hand, several people were using it to avoid deployments, last minute. I saw many times that a person in the shop would end up with 3 days to outprocess because the person who had been scheduled to go for the last 3 months all the sudden can't pass the last minute test.

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by sandsjames

Right...they aren't "fit to fight" but they are sent to "fight" anyway.

On the other hand, several people were using it to avoid deployments, last minute. I saw many times that a person in the shop would end up with 3 days to outprocess because the person who had been scheduled to go for the last 3 months all the sudden can't pass the last minute test.

People who want to avoid this PT test will want to deploy. The Air Force needs to address this. People who fail or are exempt, should not be allowed to deploy. I would bet that very few would fail the test on purpose to avoid deployments...at least not enough to make it an issue. Anyone failing the test should simply be dealt with accordingly...those with exemptions need to get their medical issues fixed first. Just make sense.

After all, the program was designed to ensure our force is "fit to fight!" Yeah Right!

There are alot of fatties at deployed locations...and they are not all Guard or Reserve...

Another issue is that those who deploy can literally go years without testing...so those that fail and deploy can get really comfortable. I still don't know how we let people who cannot walk deploy...:unsure:

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by StandardsAMust

People who want to avoid this PT test will want to deploy. The Air Force needs to address this. People who fail or are exempt, should not be allowed to deploy. I would bet that very few would fail the test on purpose to avoid deployments...at least not enough to make it an issue. Anyone failing the test should simply be dealt with accordingly...those with exemptions need to get their medical issues fixed first. Just make sense.

After all, the program was designed to ensure our force is "fit to fight!" Yeah Right!

There are alot of fatties at deployed locations...and they are not all Guard or Reserve...

Another issue is that those who deploy can literally go years without testing...so those that fail and deploy can get really comfortable. I still don't know how we let people who cannot walk deploy...:unsure:

One of the smartest people in my AFSC (finance) I ever met was a MSgt with two bum knees. For about 3-4 year he never took any sort of PT test then they discovered he could have been doing the walk test. For the last couple of years of his career he took the walk test and passed. Basically, from about his 16th-23rd year he never deployed and was on a constant profile. He was actually med boarded around 20 years and they returned him to duty. Of course he still couldn't deploy. Now here is the part I disagree with you on. This guy had been through a med board and they said he was fit to serve even though his knees are shot. My question to you is why can't he still deploy as finance?

According to regulation his job as finance is to ensure that purchases meet regulatory guidance and to safeguard negotiable instruments. In the event that he was deployed and his base was overrun his first job is to destory all currency and negotiable instruments. After that his secondary duty would be to take a defensive position and attempt to fight off the enemy. Is there any reason that he needs to be able to run far in order to do any of that? For the most part his deployed job is to sit at a desk. Why should he be exempt from deploying while others go every other year just because they can run farther than him? I would agree with you that this particular person should have been med boarded. That already happened though and the AF decided he still had value to them. After he was returned to duty there is no reason he should not be able to go on a deployment just like anyone else in the AFSC.

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by SomeRandomGuy

This guy had been through a med board and they said he was fit to serve even though his knees are shot. My question to you is why can't he still deploy as finance?

I asked a similar question in my Army days. The answer was basically that the goal is to deploy as fit a force as possible to minimize any drain on the medical system in theater. The medical system in theater is there for routine, acute conditions troops may have not long lasting chronic conditions. In addition, the medical system in theater is structured to deal with combat casualties (our own and Allies) as well as for EPW and civilians if authorized.

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by sandsjames

Right...they aren't "fit to fight" but they are sent to "fight" anyway.

On the other hand, several people were using it to avoid deployments, last minute. I saw many times that a person in the shop would end up with 3 days to outprocess because the person who had been scheduled to go for the last 3 months all the sudden can't pass the last minute test.

How does that work? Unless you have more people wanting to deploy than you have slots, failure of the FTF doesn't prevent you from deploying. To get out of a deployment, you would have to be non-current.

“I say, imagine in your private life, if you decided that I’m not going to pay my mortgage for a month or two—first of all you’re not saving money by not paying your mortgage. You’re just a dead beat. “

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by Pullinteeth

How does that work? Unless you have more people wanting to deploy than you have slots, failure of the FTF doesn't prevent you from deploying. To get out of a deployment, you would have to be non-current.

What's the purpose of being current to deploy if they let you deploy with a fail anyway?

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by StandardsAMust

What's the purpose of being current to deploy if they let you deploy with a fail anyway?

Shows you exactly how "Fit to Fight" you REALLY have to be doesn't it?

“I say, imagine in your private life, if you decided that I’m not going to pay my mortgage for a month or two—first of all you’re not saving money by not paying your mortgage. You’re just a dead beat. “

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Fail PT test and deployment should be the first corrective action. Everybody loses weight on deployment. I'm a civilian now and I volunteered to deploy in Nov...gonna drop the 25 pounds I've gained since retiring while I'm there. It's gonna feel good to have the time to actually PT properly again.

Re: Deployments and the Air Force Fitness Program

Originally Posted by BRUWIN

Fail PT test and deployment should be the first corrective action. Everybody loses weight on deployment. I'm a civilian now and I volunteered to deploy in Nov...gonna drop the 25 pounds I've gained since retiring while I'm there. It's gonna feel good to have the time to actually PT properly again.

That just defies logic. If this is the case, then just get rid of this program. While I will agree that some who deploy set fitness goals, you know just as well as me that most don't. There are usually two categories. Hunks and Chunks. Some get fat too from the all u can eat DFACs.

At some deployed locations you can get two more categories. Punks and Drunks.

Anyway, people who can't take the full test should not be allowed to deploy. Why do we need to send handicaps or our PT failures down range? It defies logic.